Articles by Ashlee Pleffer

The year was 1999 and Dennis Ballard was begrudgingly looking through bridal magazines with his soon-to-be married daughter, doing the 'good dad thing.'Suddenly it jumped out at him; as his daughter asked his opinion on two dresses, Ballard's eyes wondered to a one-line advertisement sitting between the ladies in white; 1917 Dodge Coupe, for sale.Some would think 'what an oddly placed ad' and move on, but not Ballard, who describes himself as 'old-car mad.'Perhaps the 158 cars he has owned over the years explains his self-diagnosis. With what looked like an American phone number in the advertisement, Ballard didn't waste time, calling a friend who lived in the US to find out more.“He rang the number for me and said it was genuine, that it had been in storage from 1933 to 1998,” he says. “It turned out the publishers had the ad in the wrong book, it was meant to go in some sort of motor catalogue in the States, but that didn't happen.”Which worked out nicely for Ballard, who knew it was a special model and snapped it up on the advice of his friend, who took it for a test drive.Ballard handed over the $US4800 asking price for the car and then spent a further $2000 getting it to Australia, which took about two years, finally arriving here in 2001.Ballard's Dodge was the earliest American model on display at the 21st annual All Chrysler Day at Fairfield Showground.Even today, the 62-year-old is still thanking his lucky stars he helped out with the wedding plans.“If she hadn't been at me to look at them I wouldn't have seen it, it's just incredible luck, it's a very rare car and was in absolute top condition,” he says. Ballard has since discovered the car is the oldest known surviving Dodge Coupe, making it a very valuable piece of history.Adding to that, he is only the second owner of this very unique model. He even found the original registration slip from 1918 in the door pocket.It may look stunning from the outside, but Ballard says it's not the most pleasant vehicle to drive; “Two words, bloody hard,” he says.“It's heavy steering, very direct, there's a tendency to oversteer savagely. It's okay when you're used to it, but it's definitely a man's car.”Its driving manner wasn't something the original owner mastered either.“The original owner was a doctor and apparently had a lot of trouble handling the Dodge,” Ballard says, which he discovered from speaking to the doctor's grandson who told him he often “clobbered every pair of gate posts” and rarely used the car, preferring to get around in his horse and buggy instead.“It appears he died in 1933 and the family had no need for it so they put it in the barn and covered it up,” he says, adding that it has done less than 9000 miles (14,500km).After 68 years off the road, Ballard was surprised to discover the “wooden” coupe, with its A and B pillar made from timber, was still in reasonably good condition.The only things it needed were mudguards and a paint job. But since coming into his possession, Ballard says he's spent $15,000 getting it to its present state, with one job left; replacing the moth-eaten trim. While Ballard has a passion for old cars, he admits he has a particular soft spot for American DNA.“They do tend to stand up better to Australian conditions and they're powerful, they hold their own with today's traffic, not quite as fast but they'll stay out there,” he says. “Old Dodges in particular, they're very rugged.”Ballard's car obsession really began when his first car, a 1925 Dodge, was stolen before he was even old enough to drive it.From then on, he set out rescuing as many old cars as he could.“People were practically giving these old cars away back then, so I'd drag them home, patch them up and sell them on, it used to drive my parents mad,” the 62-year-old says.“I went mad and wanted to save them all.”While Ballard's car may be the oldest and most special car at the show, there will be variety of vehicles displaying the history of the Chrysler brand, which has included other makes over the years such as Dodge, Jeep, Hillman and Centura.A 1939 Chrysler and a 1977 Dodge Charger Imperial will be among the display of about 300 cars, with a particular focus on 50 years of 'fins.'One car fitting this theme is Frank D'agostino's 1953 Chrysler New Yorker sedan.D'agostino, who has also caught the American car bug, says he particularly loves the exaggerated shape and the size of the vehicles.“They're unique, their size, their character, the days of flamboyant looks,” he says. “But they weren't designed for economy.” 

A wild new alternative was unveiled last month with the first three-wheeled scooter to hit Australia.

The outside temperature hits 35C and you're squashed inside a tiny capsule 10 degrees or more hotter than that.With your knees almost around your ears, you concentrate on the unchanging road in front of you, alone and with nothing for company but a steering wheel, some pedals, a tube supplying much-needed water and radio contact with teammates following behind in the support van.As I hit the Darwin heat last weekend, there was no imagining necessary, as I was there to see and take part in the World Solar Challenge.And while I'd like to lay claim to having experienced this hard work first hand, I was in fact watching from the comfort of an airconditioned Smart Fortwo equipped with cruise control.While 38 teams from 19 countries around the world sweated it out in the biennial event, driving from Darwin to Adelaide in a solar car in seven days, my role was in the Greenfleet Class of the challenge.This part of the event involves cars showing off “practical technologies for tomorrow”. There were entrants from car manufacturers such as Smart, Saab, Audi, Peugeot and Hyundai, as well as different companies from around the world. Bio-ethanol, hybrid and small engines like the Fortwo were among the competitors for the 3000km event.Having driven the new Fortwo, not yet on sale in Australia, in the chaotic Spanish traffic for the international launch earlier this year, it was time to put the old one to the test in some different circumstances.And as I flew the flag for team Smart last Sunday in what's often considered an unusual-looking car, the Fortwo's unique nature was overshadowed by the solar creations from schools, universities and corporations from around the world.However, the squashed-looking car still drew some giggles from the locals as we headed off for the first leg, the 300km drive to Katherine. One of our competitors even commented that we'd managed to “leave half our car behind”. And it was a celebrity send-off as we pulled out our Queen-style wave as children and adults alike lined the roads, some with good luck signs, others even setting up their picnic chairs out of town to ensure a glimpse of some of the wacky creations.Caught up in the excitement of it all, the toy car-like horn of the Smart was given a good work out, bringing a smile to many faces. The peculiar solar vehicles slowed us down a bit as we headed for the Stuart Highway, the reliance on the sun's rays not quite as fast as the power available from the 700CC turbocharged engine underneath the Smart bonnet.While speed limits now reach 130km/h in the Northern Territory, I managed to maintain a constant speed of just over 100km/h, keeping the challenge of fuel efficiency in the forefront of my mind. This meant employing other techniques such as minimising hard braking and not letting the revs rise too much.You couldn't help but feel a little guilty as you passed the futuristic cars, watching the drivers do their shifts of up to five hours at a time in what is ultimately a sauna on wheels.But NSW's sole entry, a team of 12 students from the University of NSW, assured me it really wasn't that bad.Team leader Yael Augarten, who is doing her PhD in solar-cell research, says she'd prefer to drive a solar car than a sports car any day.“I love it. It's actually quite relaxing. We haven't been going that fast, sitting about 60-70km/h,” she says.“It's like driving a sports car with the airconditioning off, but there is a vent that lets in a nice breeze.”However, with temperatures inside the shell reaching as high as 50C during the week, I think it will take a little more convincing before any sportscar owners opt for a trade-in.And from where I was sitting, the Fortwo seemed to be the more comfortable and better option.Smart competed in this event two years ago, and while this section isn't supposed to be competitive, it did walk away with the best fuel consumption — about 3.2 litres per 100km.Smart spokesman Zac Loo says the event shows the Fortwo isn't just a city car, and can be driven across the country as easily as any other vehicle.And during our trek, the Fortwo showed it could hold its own on the long highways. What seemed like a daunting task of passing those high-speed road trains, was actually a lot easier than expected.Images of the Smart being lifted off the road by the sheer force of four-trailer road-trains using the outback highways was quickly dispelled.Despite being less than an eighth the size of the beasts, the Fortwo stayed comfortably on the road. However, when they passed, the strong rush of wind in their wake did leave the car wobbling slightly.We arrived at Katherine with half a tank of fuel left, averaging around 4.5 litres per 100km, not bad considering we had the airconditioning working overtime. The combined claimed consumption for the Fortwo sits at 4.8litres per 100km.

Imagine driving a wacky space-like vehicle on the endless stretches of highway crossing the Outback.The outside temperature hits 35C degrees and you're squashed inside a tiny capsule 10 degrees or mor

It was the 1970s and like many other young men of his time, car fan Doug Davis had his eye on a special type of vehicle.

And that's something 1970 Corvette owner Glen Jackson knows very well. Whether it's the glaring eyes looking on in admiration and envy, the heart-trembling grunt of the engine, feeling special on the road or the embarrassment of breaking down in peak-hour traffic on one of Sydney's busiest motorways.For Jackson, taking the bad with the good has left him stranded and almost regretting his purchase. “When I first got it, when I first picked it up, it broke down in the M5 tunnel,” he says. “It was an over-heating problem. I was stuck in the M5 traffic, it caused chaos."“I was in a panic, in that tunnel there's nowhere to pull over and the thing was over-heated. I just got it through the other side and out of the way of traffic. I wasn't happy about it at all.”A new radiator and other work totalling $6000 had the Corvette reliable enough to drive, so Jackson could then enjoy his $34,000 purchase.“I have been playing around with cars since I left high school,” he says. “With this car you drive it and people look. It's about showing off your piece of art. I go in traffic and I get people, usually kids taking photos.”But Jackson's piece of art isn't quite finished. He plans to spend another $6000 to $10,000 fixing and improving the bodywork, which he anticipates could take another 12 months.Jackson says the 1968 to 1973 Corvette models are the most desired, as they have a more powerful 350hp engine.The succeeding models have a lower power output because of pollution regulations.And while his engine is not the original, it is a 350 Chev engine, delivering the same 350hp.When Jackson bought his very first old car just over a year ago, it had already been in Australia for at least 14 years.“It was sitting in a garage,” he says. “When I picked it up, it had been neglected and I had to get it running again.”While Jackson was and still is an avid Holden fan, sharing the passion with his family, he branched out, developing an interest in American muscle about three years ago.It took a few years searching to find this one.“I just like the style, the look of it and the shape,” he says. “There were about 17,000 built in America, so they would have been all imports here.”Jackson says his Corvette has the T-top roof and the back window comes out.“It's not quite a convertible, but it still has that feeling to it,” he says.Jackson's car started its life as a left-hand drive but was converted to right-hand drive for Australia. He says despite its age, it still drives and handles 'pretty well' when he takes it out once or twice a month.The Corvette was named after a type of British Navy ship known for its wicked speed.They were first introduced in the US in 1953 and by 1970, featured a longer, more pinched nose, shark-like gill vents on the side front fenders and chrome bumpers.Jackson's model also has some modern touches, including power steering and a CD player, which were added to the car.He considered selling his Corvette several months ago for $50,000, but as its beauty glistened in the driveway, he quickly had a change of heart.“I had advertised it, but changed my mind after a couple of weeks. I decided I liked it too much. So I won't sell it now,” the 27-year-old says. While it didn't get his mother's tick of approval when she saw the photos, Jackson says she loved it once she saw the real thing.On the road, the red Corvette sits very low to the ground. Jackson says it's a little snug on the inside, probably not the most practical car for someone standing two meters tall.But that won't stop him driving it. And with just two seats, he finds the added disadvantage of not being able to drive friends around.His friends will just have to walk or find their own rides, as Jackson is strongly attached to the red beauty for the time being.Although, it won't be red for much longer, as Jackson plans to give it a bit more life and take it back to the days when it rolled off the factory floor 37 years ago.He says he likes the red, “because red ones go faster,” but back in its day, the Corvette was originally blue. And by taking it back to its original appearance, Jackson is confident of boosting the car's value. Snapshot 1970 Chevrolet CorvetteValue when new: from $US5469Value now: $A34,000 for an average model, around $A60,000 for a top modelVerdict: The 1970s sports car may leave you stranded, but at least it does so in style. The Corvette has all the old-school 'coolness' that makes it just like a piece of art. 

About 20 car enthusiasts have already done just that.

Lexus is debuting its new intelligent park assist system at the Australian International Motor Show, with demonstrations showing how the car can take control and park itself. It is the first time the system is available on a production vehicle in Australia, although the technology has previously been seen overseas in a Toyota Prius. In Australia, the system is currently standard on the recently released Lexus LS460 and it will also be a feature on the soon-to-be-released hybrid, the LS600hL. But saving face doesn't come cheap. The new hybrid will carry around a $250,000 price tag, which also includes reclining ottoman seats in the rear. And the LS460 is already available for about $185,000. The system uses a rear camera and ultrasonic sensors to identify parking spaces; then calculates the correct steering angle to guide you into the chosen spot. Steering is controlled automatically and all the driver needs to worry about is controlling speed by using the brake. Lexus Australia advertising and PR manager Matt Tannock said; one of the key benefits of the self-parking system is customers don't have to worry about damaging their car while parking. And while it is currently only available in the two models, Mr Tannock said customer demand will determine if it becomes an industry standard and even spreads to other manufacturers. “The whole idea of taking your hands off the wheel and reverse parking a vehicle would be understandably different from any normal driving experience,” he said. “Once customers observe the IPA and understand how it can benefit them, there is no doubt demand for such technology will become standard in the future.” And while there is a lot of technology that can be found at the Motor Show in the 500 different models on display, this is the only one where you can see it in action, with demonstrations held every hour for the duration of the show. And it has been attracting plenty of curious onlookers during the week, although some are a little cynical. Fay Sheeley from Victoria was skeptical, saying that if you can not back your vehicle car into a parking spot, you really should not have your licence. Monique Selton, who does the parking demonstrations at the Motor Show for Lexus, said the system was easy to use and very practical. The LS600hL in which the parking technology features, is the world's first petrol-electric V8 hybrid and equals a V12 in performance. And it does so without costing a fortune at the pump. It has the fuel economy of a medium-sized car and its claimed consumption is just 9.3-litres per 100km. The new intelligent park assist technology is on display in the LS600hL at the Lexus stand. Tonight the show focus swings to fashion with the first of three nights of parades. Designer Ruby Smallbone will showing a collection at the Peugeot stand from 6.30pm. The Australian International Motor Show is on until 21 October 2007.   How it works The driver slowly drives past an intended parking space The sonar sensors detect the available space before stopping just beyond the space. Driver shifts into reverse gear and selects the parallel parking option. It calculates both the parking trajectory and required steering angle, while a view of the target car park is projected on to the centre console's touch-screen. The driver then activates the system by releasing the brake pedal and the car begins reversing at a slow speed. The system monitors vehicle speed and automatically controls the electric power steering to guide the vehicle into the parking spot. It automatically controls the steering but the driver controls the speed and stopping of the vehicle using the brake pedal.  

The Hummer may be the biggest, most-aggressive looking car at this year's motor show, but one that is significantly smaller; and doesn't even have an engine; is getting the kids' votes. This miniature 1965 Shelby GT350 pedal car weighs just 9.5kg and is 99cm long, 46cm high and 40cm wide. It will find a new owner next Sunday, the last day of the show, when it goes up for auction alongside 32 much bigger, and more expensive, classic vehicles. Shannons Insurance spokesman Damien Duigan said the pedal car was expected to fetch between $600 and $1000. “It's probably going to be bought by a dad who's right into Shelby Mustangs and looking for a little one for their son or daughter to run around in,” he said. Nicholas Ode, 1, from Lane Cove, was the first youngster to take the miniature Shelby for a test drive Nicholas may not have been able to verbally give his opinion, but judging by his delighted reaction it's a sure winner. As if its cute looks weren't enough, the pedal car is officially licensed and signed by legendary US car engineer Carroll Shelby. But if the toy version doesn't cut it, the real thing is also up for grabs. A 1967 Shelby Mustang GT350 fastback is expected to fetch between $200,000 and $240,000 at auction. The car was restored in the US before making its way to Australia this year. More than 500 cars from 40-odd manufacturers are on display at the show. They include about 50 new models for car enthusiasts to enjoy, and the children can be kept entertained this Saturday, Family Day. Show spokesman Mark Mathot said there would be plenty of activities to keep kids entertained during the day. The show is on until October 21. Australian International Motor Show Where: Exhibition and Convention Centre, Darling Harbour Hours: weekdays 10am-10pm, Saturday 9am-10pm & Sunday 9am-7pm Tickets: Adults $17, children and seniors$11.50  

Cars in the light car segment are usually known for their small size, small engine and small price tag, resulting in some average driving, but adequate getting around.But Ford has added a teacher's pet to the segment, one that is certainly worthy of a few gold stars.It's still small in size, but the engine and price tag get slightly bigger.The XR4 breaks the $20,000 price bracket, which seems expensive for a light car, but it doesn't take long for the all-round performance to quickly prove its worth.At $24,990, the XR4 comes in less than its other athletic competitors such as the Volkswagen Polo GTI at $26,990 and the Mitsubishi Ralliart Colt for $29,990. And while others such as the Suzuki Swift may come a little cheaper, they don't have that edge to performance found in the XR4.The stand-out Fiesta has ditched the regular 1.6-litre engine, and instead adopts a modified version of the 2.0-litre Duratec 16-valve engine found in the Focus. The free-revving four-cylinder powertrain delivers 110kW at 6000rpm and 190Nm at 4500rpm, with 80 per cent of torque available from as low as 1800rpm.It feels very quick and snappy in city traffic, with great pulling power for such a small car.The acceleration isn't outstanding, but it's very confident. Around town cruising revs at 2000rpm; hit the highway in fifth at around 100km/h and it sits on 3000rpm.Its straight-line performance is good but not quite superb, as the XR4 is more of an all-rounder, a jack-of-all-trades but not a real master of any.It doesn't take long for the XR4 to come up to speed when under-revving in higher gears and around corners the feisty Fiesta bites back, showing even third gear is up to the task.The new XR family member is lively in all conditions, thanks to some changes to the suspension, including the stiffening of the front and rear springs, recalibrating the dampers and lowering the suspension.Steering is also more agile and the five-speed manual transmission has been revamped to allow quicker shifting. The brakes haven't gone untouched, with an upgrade to the front ventilated discs with larger calipers and pads, as well as rear disc brakes for the first time in the Fiesta range.So, while it seems to fit the description of a sporty car, it's really only let down slightly by the sound of the engine, as the road noise from the low-profile tyres often overpowers it.The tightened suspension means you feel the many potholes around town, but it also makes it much firmer and sturdy on the road.The enhanced performance comes at a sacrifice as fuel consumption is higher than your regular light cars, the Fiesta usually averaging 6.6litres per 100km. The XR4, however, has a claimed 7.4litres per 100km consumption, but on our test it didn't drop below 8.7litres per 100km.While it's light in nature, just 1090kg, contributing to the excellent driving dynamics and handling, the wide turning circle could have done with some tweaking. Tight shopping car parks usually required a shift into reverse before clearing the turn.And the pedals are positioned too far to the left, leaving no room to rest your foot next to the clutch, instead having to put it in front of the pedal.Inside, a thin dash and big windows, means there's plenty of room for front seat comfort. The rear seats get a little squishy, but two adults could still travel for a decent journey without feeling too cramped.Inside, you're welcomed by a two-toned interior design.The test car had bold blue coloured-cloth, combined with seats with leather inserts, which proved very comfy. The blue and black dash was topped off with silver trim as a reminder of that sporty theme.Storage space in the front is minimal, although the glovebox and the boot are reasonable.If you're not convinced the driving and handling is enough to justify the price rise, there are many features that might just change your mind.The XR4 gets a six-disc CD player, airconditioning, six airbags, Dynamic Stability Control and traction control, sports seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 17-inch alloy wheels, a leather gear-knob with alloy trim and sports pedals.But it lacks cruise control and the radio controls sit on a bulky lever behind the steering wheel like the rest of the Fiesta range, which is fiddly and not that easy to see.The hot-hatch wears some XR4 badges and a sports body styling kit, which includes a front bumper, side skirts, rear bumper and a large body coloured spoiler on the exterior. But for those wanting everyone to know their sporting tendencies, there's an extra option you can take that is sure to make you stand out.For an extra $300, you can get some bold racing stripes.At first it seems a little boy toyish, but the racing connection grows on you and it lets everyone know just how special the car is.With the XR4 label, the Fiesta earns its stripes as it is transformed into a sporty little machine, without burning a big hole in your pocket. Bottom lineWhile it may be a much smaller addition, the Ford Fiesta XR4 lives up to the family name. Snapshot Ford Fiesta XR4Price: $24,990Engine: 2.0L/4-cylinder, 110kW/190NmTransmission: 5-speed manualEconomy: 7.4L/100km   The rivals  VOLKSWAGEN POLO GTI Price: $26,990Engine: 1.8L/4cyl turbo, 110kW/220NmTransmission: 5-speed manualEconomy: 7.9L/100km   Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart  Price: $29,990Engine: 1.5L/4-cyl turbo, 113kW/210NmTransmission: 5-speed manualEconomy: 6.7L/100km    Suzuki Swift  Price: $23,990Engine: 1.6L/4-cyl, 92kW/148NmTransmission: 5-speed manualEconomy: 7.5L/100km